Burial-box.



W. J. DRUMMOND.

BURIAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s, 190s.

1,024.471. p 1 &tenteaApr.23,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.. wAsHlNu'roN. D. C.

W. J. DRUMMOND.

BURIAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s, 1908. 1,024,471 Patent-,ea Apr. 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAP'M c0.,wASH|NaToN. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. DRUMMOND, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BURIAL-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, `WILLIAM J. DRUM- MoND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Burial- Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and substantialinclosing structure for a burial casket or coiiin, which structure maybe readily placed in a grave without the use of derricks or otherlifting mechanism, and when completed will be practically air tight.

Other features of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l, is a perspective view of my improved structure showing thecover sections lifted; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of thestructure in position in the grave; Fig. 3, is a transverse sectionalview on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is a view showing the severalsections of the box detached, and Fig. 5, is a view illustrating amodified vconstruction available for use in small graves.

It has been customary to use a box of wood or sheet metal to inclose aburial casket; to construct in the grave a brick structure covered witha stone slab to inclose the casket, or to make a very heavy structureout of cement which requires a derrick and considerable rigging to lowerthe same into position within the grave. Vooden and metal boxesdeteriorate and are useless in a very sho-rt time. Brick vaults aresatisfactory but they are very expensive, occupy a large space and takeconsiderable time to build, andthe cement structures are cumbersome andare not only expensive to make but also to place in the grave. Iovercome all these objections by making a concrete inclosing structurein a number of sections, any one of which can be readily lifted intoposition by a mason; the entire structure being capable of assembly withvery little labor in a very short time.

Referring to the drawings, A, A, represent two slabs of concrete of theproper width and length and of suflicient thickness to insure rigidity;such slabs being designed to serve as the bottom of the structure. Theslabs A may be reinforced in any suitable Inanner, preferably as shownin Fig. 4, where they are represented as having a se- Speciication ofLetters Patent.

Application led November `3, 1908.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Serial No. 460,870.

ries of transverse metal rods a and diagonal rods a embedded within thematerial forming the same so as to strengthen each slab and make itperfectly rigid. In order that the slabs may be readily handled, I mayprovide eyes a2 adjacent the several corners of the same, which eyes maybe of sections o-f wire bent to form extensions a3 which underlie thereinforcing rods a and short reinforcing sections m4 as clearly shown inFig. 3. 1When the structure is complete, the wire eyes. a2 can be bentdown so as to be practically flush with the surface of the bottom slabs.

The sides are made in two sect-ions B, B', one mounted directly abovethe other, and each section is notched at each end, as indicated at Z)in the drawings, for the reception of tongues c projecting from the endsections C. The side sections have a series of longitudinal reinforcingrods or wiresr b2 extending the full length of the sections; the centralrods or wires b2 being preferably heavier than the upper and lower rodsor wires b', and two of the rods or wires extend the full length of eachside section so as to overlap the end sections C.

The end sections C are preferably reinforced with a series oflongitudinal and vertical rods or wires c and c2; the centrallongitudinal rod or wire extending the full length of the section so asto enter the tongues c, as indicated, and this reinforcing of thecorners of the structure makes it very substantial.

D, D represent the top plates or slabs, of a construction similar tovthe bottom slabs A; having transverse reinforcing rods cl and diagonalreinforcing rods CZ, and adjacent each corner of the top plates orslabs, eyes or loops cl2 are placed so that the slabs can be readilyhandled. The eyes (Z2. are retained in the slabs in the same manner asthe eyes a2.

In assembling my improved inclosing structure a grave of the proper sizeis dug and substantially leveled on the bottom. The two bottom slabs Aare then placed in position, as in Fig. 2; said slabs being cementedtogether at ac, and cement is placed on top of the slabs adjacent eachlongitudinal edge of the same. The bottom side sections B are thenplaced in position, engaging such cement, after which a layer of cementis placed on top of the slab sections A adjacent the ends of the sameand then the end sections C are placed in position; the tongues centering the recesses in the ends of the side sections B, as indicatedin Fig. 1. A layer of cement is placed for contact between the adjoiningportions of side sections and the end sections at each corner, afterwhich the upper port-ions B of the side sections are placed in positionand extend over and rest upon the tongnes c of the end sections; beingcemented to said end sections and to the lower portions of the sidesections B. Before the cement at the joints of the sev eral sectionssets, l preferably pack the earth back of the sides and ends asindicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to hold the sections in properposition. during such setting action, and when such cement hardens thestructure is practically homogeneous, ready to receive a casket orcoi'iin. After a burial casket has been placed in position a layer ofcement is placed on the upper' edges of the sides and ends and then thetop slab sections D are placed thereon in proper position; being alsocemented together at their` meeting edges. The grave can be filledimmediately after the. top slab sections are set in place, for when thecement at the several joints finally hai-dens, the structure issubstantially a single unit of concrete stiifened by reinforcingmembers. Owing to the material of which the structure is made, it iscapable of withstanding the weight of the earth without crushing, and itis not liable to deteriorate.

lVhile l prefer to make the sides of the structure in sections, as shownin Fig. 5, smaller sizes may be made having single side portions, incases where they can be readily handled. and placed in position. lprefer to use the two sections, however, as in such case all portions ofthe structure can be handled and readily placed in position by a singlemason.

It will be understood that the arrangeA ment of the reinforcing rods canbe modilied without departing from the main features of my invention;that the end section may be made in two pieces notched at the ends, andthat the side sections may be provided with tongues if desired.

I claim:

The combination in a burial structure made up of a series of moldedslabs of con crete, of two bottom slab sections, each slab havingreinforcing means including transverse and diagonal bars of metalembedded therein, metallic loops projecting from the upper surface ofsaid bottom slab sections having portions embedded within said slabs andanchored below the metai reinforcing bars, the sides of said structurebeing made up of two longitudinal slab sections cemented together and tothe bottom sections, each side section having its ends notched orrabbeted to form recesses when said sides are assembled, end sectionshaving centrally disposed tongues projecting therefrom in oppositedirections and adapted to interconnect with the recessed ends of theside sections, said side and end sections having longitudinally disposedmetal rods forming reinforcing means, those of the side sectionseXtending substantially the full length of the same so as to overlap thetongues of the end sections and reinforce the reduced ends of said sidesections and top slab sections of concrete reinforced by metal bars orrods, said top sections also having metallic loops or eyes projectingfrom the upper surface of said sections and having portions within saidslabs anchored below the metal reinforcing bars; the slab sectionsforming the completed structure being cemented together at their severalabutting edges.

In testimony whereof, l have signed .my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VVILLlAh/f J. DRUli/ililUND.

i/Vitnesses Jos. H. KLEIN, l/VM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C.

